How To Start Flexible Seating - Mr. Riedl

After receiving several comments about how to implement flexible seating in a classroom that hasn't had it before, I made this video to address some of the questions. Enjoy!
Tips in this video:
2:05 - Tip #1 - Start a little bit at a time.
10:25 - Tip #2 - Make flexible seating guidelines for the class.
12:45 - Tip #3 - Be consistent with enforcing consequences.
14:59 - Tip #4 - Create a consistent routine for how students pick their seats.
16:10 - Tip #5 - Figure out what you're going to do when your students only want to sit next to their friends or when they try to exclude other students.
23:58 - Tip #6 - Model the expectations.
25:44 - Tip #7 - Don't be afraid to fail.
Classroom Tour! 5th Grade Flexible Seating - Mr. Riedl on KZbin:
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Strategically Randomized Weekly Seating Choice List - Google Docs:
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Music mixed by me, using the Music Maker JAM app on Android.
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Mr. Riedl's Website: riedlteach.com
Twitter: / mrriedl
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[@callies4105]

my teacher a couple years ago had yoga balls as seats, and our class loved it!

[@manda1433]

I'm starting with a reading table and three inflatable chairs. I plan on adding cushions to my traditional desks and arranging them as desk groups. I teach upper-school ELA, so enforcing expectations is fairly easy.

[@zauraliyarov7252]

Love your videos! You are a BRILLIANT teacher

[@Riedlteach]

Thanks Zaour! 😊

[@GracejoyTV]

Awesome tips! Thank you for taking the time to do this video!

[@Riedlteach]

You're very welcome! 😊👍

[@brynnbrown2678]

Your videos are sooo informational!

[@Riedlteach]

Thanks! Happy to help!

[@stevenclark5217]

This video was very helpful. Thanks for sharing! I am switching classrooms mid year and I need to switch it up!

[@Riedlteach]

Happy to help!

[@sparklingshelby933]

So helpful thank you

[@Riedlteach]

You're welcome 😊

[@scarfajard9737]

Thank you.

[@Riedlteach]

You're welcome! 😊👍

[@scarfajard9737]

@@Riedlteach just for you to know (and however reads this), I am tweeting that you answered me back.

[@kimdobiasidaho]

These were great tips :)

[@Riedlteach]

Thanks Kim!

[@averylawson611]

It was awesome to run into you today at Wal-Mart!!

[@Riedlteach]

You too, Matthew! I forgot to tell you when we were chatting in person that I first started out doing after school care. That's really tough work. Keep it up! I hope you're enjoying the kids at Sabin! 😊👍

[@averylawson611]

@@Riedlteach thanks. Yeah it's lots of work but it's getting easy now.

[@jajahgadis]

Thanks for sharing your classroom arrangement. I'm a training teacher and this is very useful. You seem to have a great balance of freedom and discipline, being able to assert yourself as the teacher when necessary. May I ask why you have a christian flag on the wall?

[@Riedlteach]

You're welcome! Happy to help! There's a Christian flag because it's a Christian school. 😊👍

[@jesusroks545]

I am starting this with couches and beanbags. It is tough and expensive as I need to buy all the stuff. But it is also kind of a fun project

[@barbaraott407]

wobble cushons 👌

[@TheLizard2222]

What do you recommend for storage of student books, notebooks, and other personal supplies with a flexible classroom?

[@Riedlteach]

I do community school supplies in my room, notebook boxes, and shelves for textbooks. I talk about that and show more in my classroom tour video. 👍

[@christinasanchez8775]

What are the orange things under the yoga balls? I've seen people use pool noodles.

[@Riedlteach]

Bucket lids! I like them better than pool noodles. goo.gl/images/MCeiMD

[@christinasanchez8775]

Mr. Riedl, thanks for the reply! I will definitely try them! I am starting slowly to move toward flexible seating, and yoga balls are my next addition. I enjoy your videos! Thank you!

[@melissal8678]

Just a curious question, have you ever dealt with a disruptive or problematic child while teaching?

[@Riedlteach]

Yes, but "disruptive" and "problematic" are relative terms. I've dealt with more difficult students when teaching 8th grade math at a public school in rural Eastern Oregon than my current 5th grade position at a Christian private school. There are difficult students at every school, but it's relative to the culture of the school, you know what I mean?

[@kenziebacklin11]

Mr Riedl do u ever have or had students that have a problem with fire drills or a sound sensitive student who is sensitive to the fire alarm in ur classroom? If so plz tell me all about that or u could also do a video about it haha I’d love to know thx

[@Riedlteach]

No I'm sorry I haven't

[@kenziebacklin11]

@@Riedlteach oh ok I just thought that was a good question and I was curious

[@candice7380]

Good tips but I think u could add a little more color to ur classroom,it's kinda boring just like tan,green,and brown.I think the students will like the classroom with more colors the colors will bring positive vibies